Israel obstacle to nuke-free Mideast, says Syria

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem urges Israel to yield to the demands pressed by the UN nuclear watchdog and open its nuclear sites to inspection.

The Syrian diplomat said on Monday that the Israeli regime must place all its nuclear installations under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, and adhere to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The objectives of the landmark international treaty are to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to achieve nuclear disarmament.

For decades, Tel Aviv has refused to confirm the well-documented fact that it possesses a significant arsenal of nuclear warheads.

"Syria stresses the need to commit Israel to comply with the resolution adopted by the IAEA ... regarding Israeli nuclear capabilities," Al-Mualem said.